Before and After: HGTV’s “Down Home Fab” Transforms a Dark Stone Fireplace Into a Statement Piece

Before and After: HGTV’s “Down Home Fab” Transforms a Dark Stone Fireplace Into a Statement Piece

When Jessica and Nate decided that they wanted their South Dakota home to better reflect their sense of style, they called on Chelsea and Cole DeBoer to help them add some bold “ranch glam” to their outdated house. In the premiere episode of HGTV’s “Down Home Fab,” Chelsea and Cole gave the kitchen and sitting room some unique, modern updates.

While the original kitchen contained a few stylish details, the space required several updates. The cabinets were in great shape, but they needed some new color and hardware. The floors were made up of large white tiles and the island was abnormally short, which prevented the family from being able to comfortably sit or stand around it during mealtime.

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With a kitchen budget of $35,000, Chelsea, Cole, and their team started by demolishing the small island and ripping up the old countertops. They removed the old flooring and later replaced it with dark, sliced french oak hardwood to help bring out the “ranch feeling.” They painted the cabinets black for an affordable way to make a big change. They also tore down the wall that had previously separated the kitchen from the dining area, which created an open concept look with lots of natural light.

Chelsea shared that she thought that “every room should have a magical moment,” so she opted to give the stove a chunky and dramatic black vent-hood-turned-statement piece that could tie everything together. She picked out butcher block countertops for the surrounding spaces and a veined quartz countertop for the new kitchen island. She also used the quartz on the backsplash for the stove. The team wrapped the base of the new island in copper and brought in four light blue chairs to help complete the look.

The original living room was similarly outdated. The focal point of the space was a massive wood-burning fireplace, but the room as a whole was too dark. The walls and ceiling were made out of dark wood and the floor was carpeted. “We love the wood aspect and tones to it, but something, I think, needs a little bit of a new look to it,” Nate said.

Keeping their $15,000 living room budget in mind, Chelsea and Cole added the same wooden flooring from the kitchen into the living room in an effort to add some “rustic warmth” to the space. They painted the walls and ceiling a dark green to add some warmth, but refrained from touching the ceiling beams in an effort to maintain the original cabin vibe of the space. They also installed custom antler chandeliers, which created a chic lodge feel.

The greatest transformation in the living room was the stone on the fireplace, which Chelsea and Cole chose to whitewash. While Jessica was on board for the idea, Nate was initially hesitant because he was afraid of losing the stone’s character. In a compromise, the DeBoers promised to lighten it up in a way that would keep the original texture and color variation. They used a 1:1 paint:water ratio in the whitewash to help keep it on the lighter side. The team painted the outer shelves the same dark green as the ceilings and walls before stacking the shelves with wood. They also replaced the original flagstone hearth with the same quartz that was used in the kitchen. From there, they extended the quartz into a waterfall effect, so that the hearth was completely covered.

“What you’ve done is awesome,” Nate said after seeing the living room. “It feels like ours now.”

“Down Home Fab” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and discovery+.

B&A: “Married to Real Estate” Crafts a Modern Office and Dining Room

B&A: “Married to Real Estate” Crafts a Modern Office and Dining Room

After several years of living in an apartment, Mark and Rebecca were eager to move into a house near their daughter’s school in the Dunwoody, Georgia area. Fortunately, husband-and-wife real estate and renovation duo Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson were able to find the family of three a fixer upper within their price range. In the Season 2 premiere of HGTV’s “Married to Real Estate,” Egypt and Mike gave the dated house a modern makeover, including an office and dining room transformation.

Mark and Rebecca shared that they were big entertainers and that Mark needed a space to work from home, so an excellent dining room and office were a must in the renovation. The couple were interested in crafting a space that would fit into a “refined, modern farmhouse” without going too far backwards in time. Egypt’s goal was to mix “a little bit of history with a little bit of modern.”

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The office was originally just a front room in the house and served as a spare lounge space. It had light walls, dark wooden floors, an old couch, a TV, a couple of pieces of outdated and mismatched wooden furniture. The room had some good natural light, thanks to three windows, but it otherwise lacked character and depth. 

Mike and Egypt opted to begin the transformation by adding in a murphy closet space, hidden by four bookshelves. The shelves and closet opened into an ensuite for additional bathroom access. “It marries, again, design and function into the space,” Egypt explained. “I’m always trying to figure out how to make a room multipurpose.” The new light wooden flooring and white walls meant that Mike and Egypt could get bold with their accent colors, so they painted the trim and bookshelves Essex Green. They brought in accessories for the shelves, a wooden desk, two white chairs, a new rug, and hung two pieces of artwork to help make the space feel more personalized.

The original dining room was already in good shape and only needed new flooring, furniture, and a brief structural update. The team created a half-wall between the dining area and the casual conversational seating space that was broken up by open wooden shelving. It allowed for a better flow throughout the entire home and for additional natural light to stream into the dining area. “I actually like the way it gives you a little bit of privacy, but it’s not blocked off as you can see through,” Mark said. Mike, Egypt, and their team filled the shelves with decorations and added a wooden structure and two mirrors for additional depth. 

The space received the same new light wooden flooring and window shades as the office, in addition to a white table and flour black chairs. They also replaced the single overhead light with a five-bulb, yellow-brass light fixture. “Just the light and the airiness and how open it is… it’s just absolutely gorgeous,” Rebecca said. “It’s exactly what we were hoping [for].”

“Married to Real Estate” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.

The Remodeled Victorian Mansion from “Good Bones: Risky Business” Is On Airbnb

The Remodeled Victorian Mansion from “Good Bones: Risky Business” Is On Airbnb

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For those who tuned into “Good Bones: Risky Business,” you saw just how much went into renovating Charlotte Hall. It quite literally started at rock bottom — charred primary bedroom, boarded-up turret, dank carriage house, and all — and was brought back to life in a big way. And now, host Mina Starsiak Hawk is ready to show off her hard work.

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“Let’s talk about the elephant in the room… Charlotte Hall,” the caption of a January 6 post on Starsiak Hawk’s Instagram reads. “We know what you’re thinking. What happened after Risky Business? Will there be public tours again since Christmas at Charlotte Hall ended? Don’t worry, Charlotte Hall is ready for you!”

The caption continues, “Grab your friends and family for a weekend away, host a shower for the soon-to-be bride or mama in your life, or plan your ‘I Do’s,’ all with the stunning backdrop of Charlotte Hall! Whether it’s a reunion, wedding, party, or just a girls’ trip, Charlotte Hall is opening for booking!”

Charlotte Hall, which was available to tour during Christmastime, is a 7-bedroom, 5.5-bath mansion located in Indianapolis. As “Risky Business” audiences saw, the place is unrecognizable from the abandoned, fire-damaged house Starsiak Hawk started with. 

She even completely redid the carriage house in the back of the home, which can now be used as an event space for weddings, reunions, and parties as well as additional housing.

“This space covers SO many different vibes and styles; you can jump from edgy brick vibes to Gatsby elegance to sexy boudoir within seconds,” the Peerspace listing reads.

Grab your friends and book a stay at Charlotte Hall, or at it to the list of possible venues for that event you have coming up, and see up close just how amazing the transformation is.

Before and After: On HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU,” Drew Barrymore Adds Warmth and Function to a Friend’s Kitchen

Before and After: On HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU,” Drew Barrymore Adds Warmth and Function to a Friend’s Kitchen

Drew Barrymore has always credited her makeup artist and best friend, Deb, with helping her get through her divorce. When Deb wound up going through her own divorce, Barrymore decided to give her friend a fresh start in her longtime home. In the latest episode of HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU,” Barrymore teamed up with Jonathan and Drew Scott to renovate Deb’s house.

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The focus of the renovation took place in the kitchen and dining area, where Deb and her son spent a bulk of their time. While the kitchen was in decent shape, it hadn’t received any upkeep in recent years and the wear-and-tear had begun to show. The kitchen was scarce, lacked function, and had worn-down wooden floors. It was also in need of more storage, counter space, and room to host dinner parties. 

With a timeline of five weeks, Barrymore and the Scott brothers kicked off the renovation by tearing down the old white shelves and cabinets. They removed the patio doors from the kitchen (and moved them to the living room), so that they could use the extra kitchen space to install additional cabinetry and storage. Barrymore picked out light wooden cabinets with black brass hardware and a light backsplash. The team tore up the old wood flooring and replaced it with new, light wood flooring in a herringbone pattern to add some “comfortable sophistication” to the room.  

“Just because Deb likes modern doesn’t mean you can’t have a classic touch like herringbone,” Drew said. “This actually elevates the look of the space.”

In an effort to increase counter space (and give Deb and her son a casual breakfast bar), the team installed a kitchen island. They used white quartz on both the countertops and the top of the island, which featured a black base and two matching chairs. The white quartz helped give the counters a marble look, minus the easily stained properties of true marble. For additional storage, the team added floating shelves in the kitchen, which they filled with dishes and decorations. 

They brought in totally new appliances, including a fridge that was easily concealed within the same wood as the cabinets. They also incorporated a hidden trash can and dishwasher within the cabinets, which helped give the entire kitchen a seamless and clutter-free appearance. They installed a stylish, customized oven and stove top range. Barrymore picked out a black stove with brass hardware to give the space a “timeless” look.

“With the wood cabinets and the darker island, the range will strike the perfect balance of modern-chic without overpowering the overall design,” Jonathan said.

The team also installed a pot filler over the stove, so that Deb could easily fill pots with water while cooking (rather than lugging a pot over to the sink). They completed the final look by adding plants, flowers, a new white dining table, and four comfortable dining chairs. They also added a pair of brass hanging lights, which matched the hardware on the stove and helped pull the entire space together.

“It’s just such a lovely enhancement to our lives,” Deb said. “I almost don’t feel worthy enough for it, because it is so beautiful and it’s so extravagant.”

“Celebrity IOU” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and discovery+.

B&A: Cheryl Hines Transforms a Run-Down Garage into a Upscale Guest Suite

B&A: Cheryl Hines Transforms a Run-Down Garage into a Upscale Guest Suite

In the 20 years that Cheryl Hines has known Sarita, their relationship has transformed from assistant/nanny and boss to that of best friends. In the latest episode of HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU,” Cheryl wanted to show her appreciation for Sarita by giving her detached garage a full-blown renovation. Cheryl teamed up with Drew and Jonathan Scott to transform her former assistant’s run-down garage into a multi-function guesthouse and workspace. 

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The original garage was a bare-bones, dilapidated single room. The room was dark, with concrete floors, weak wooden walls, a lone window, and no real door. More than anything else, the garage served as a temporary storage space. Jonathan noted that the structure seemed “shady” and that he would hesitate to even park a car in the space, out of fear that it would collapse. Cheryl requested a multi-function makeover that prioritized eclectic simplicity. She wanted the area to serve as both an office space for Sarita or her husband and a guest suite (complete with a bed, bathroom, and kitchenette).

With a tight three-and-a-half-week timeline, Cheryl and the Scott brothers kicked off their renovation. Their first focus was making the garage more structurally sound, which they accomplished by adding new rebar in concrete footing (which was especially important, since the home was in an earthquake zone). After adding in the concrete, they brought in light tone luxury vinyl flooring in a herringbone pattern. They also installed a new support beam on the ceiling and knocked down some of the flimsy wooden wall features, which they later fixed with premium, fire-proof insulation and drywall.

The team installed sliding glass doors to the entrance of the garage, which helped bring in lots of natural light and brighten the place. They also expanded the small window on one wall and turned it into a kitchenette area. Cheryl picked out dark cabinetry and dark porcelain stone for the countertop to create a “rich and sexy look.” To help balance out the dark kitchenette, Cheryl selected light, warm window treatments and clear acrylic hardware. The team installed compact appliances to help create “boutique hotel vibes” and erected a wall to separate the kitchen from the new bathroom.

Cheryl, Drew, and Jonathan opted to have custom built-ins in the living and working space in order to maximize storage. In addition to a desk and shelves, they picked out a Murphy bed, which could easily fold up when not in use. They brought in a comfortable cream couch, two different accent chairs, a coffee table, and a small black dining area to help tie the whole space together. Among the many decorations in the room, Cheryl had Sarita’s kids’ drawings transferred from paper to framed glass, for several personalized shelf adornments.

“It doesn’t feel like you’re in a garage,” Jonathan said. “It literally just feels like a separate structure that was built with the intention of it being a guest space.”

“Celebrity IOU” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and discovery+.